Adani and Saab to Collaborate for Aerospace and Defence in India

The intended collaboration would encompass design, development and production of Gripen, Saab’s multi-role fighter aircraft.

Defence and security company Saab and Indian infrastructure conglomerate Adani Group today announced a collaboration plan within aerospace and defence in India, aligned with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. The intended collaboration would encompass design, development and production of Gripen for India and other high-tech products of national importance.

Saab, in partnership with Adani Group, will discuss possibilities to offer solutions to bring required design and manufacturing capabilities in defence and aerospace. The collaboration will combine the technical and product excellence of Saab, along with the industrial engineering, system integration and mega project execution capabilities of Adani.

With India’s focus on creating future-proof and home-grown capabilities across all industries, both companies will explore cooperation to develop a wider aerospace and defence ecosystem. A critical part of a joint roadmap would be to encourage the development of small and medium sized enterprises along with a robust national supply chain.

“We are committed to India and Sweden’s relationship and in bringing the latest technology and skills to India,” said CEO and President of Saab AB, Håkan Buskhe.

“The Adani Group is one of India’s largest global conglomerates. It has a long history of entrepreneurship, spanning through decades of dynamic growth. Our plans in India are to create a new defence eco-system that would involve many partners, vendors and suppliers. To achieve this, we need a strong Indian partner who can help create the framework for the infrastructure and eco-system to come into place,” said Buskhe

“In continuation of our vision of nation building, we are keen to play an instrumental role in helping transform India into a destination for world class high-tech defence manufacturing,” said chairman of Adani Group, Gautam Adani. “We are proud of our enduring relationship with Saab and look forward to partnering in major projects such as Gripen. Our various collaborations in aerospace and defence sectors will help establish new production lines in India, generate employment and build sustainable skills,” he further added

The intended collaboration would include Gripen for India. It would be offered to the Indian government as the best solution for India’s single-engine fighter aircraft programme. The collaboration would also include projects, programs and technologies of national importance to India. The parties’ plan to develop the relationship into a structure of joint ventures in India for execution of the programs, including the single engine fighter program, in order to support the ‘Make in India’ policy.

Gripen is a modern multi-role fighter aircraft featuring state-of-the-art technology, including advanced data links and sensors plus a unique extensive electronic warfare suite. It can perform all air-to-air, air-to-surface and reconnaissance missions with the most modern range of weapons and systems.